County News: Armed men attacked pair who wished them Merry Christmas

Two men who pulled a knife on another man in an attempted robbery in Sussex in the early hours of Christmas Day are being sought by police.

The victim, a 24-year-old man, was not harmed, but was left very shaken by the assault in Chepbourne Road, Bexhill, just after 2am on Friday (December 25).

He had left the Devonshire pub with a female companion and had walked up Amhurst Road into Chepbourne Road where they passed two men and wished them “Merry Christmas”, but were ignored.

As they continued on their way, the victim heard running behind him and turned to see the two men sprinting towards him. He was kicked and punched by the men and in defending himself, caused one of his attackers to fall to the ground.

The other man then took out a knife and threatened him with it.

It is believed that the motivation for the attack was the attempted robbery of an expensive watch that the victim was wearing.

The woman attempted to intervene, but was pushed away by the men and called the police who arrived a few minutes later. She was not harmed.

The suspects are described as both white men both in their mid-20s; the first was 5’ 9”, of slim build and wearing dark clothing. The second man was 5’ 10”, of medium build, with a distinctive round head, light brown hair and soft ‘bumfluff’ around his chin and face.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the attackers is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 135 of 25/12.